Hi, I am Nina. I am from the U.S. and 37 years old.
I have an Instagram page called @naturally_graysful that I started this past summer because I wanted to be a face of possibility to other young prematurely gray women and women of color.
I don’t remember how old I was when I found my first gray hair but I started prematurely graying in my late 20s / early 30s. I was not totally surprised by this because my father prematurely grayed in his 30s.
I found in the beginning that there were people who were like, “are you going to color your hair?”….almost as if I came out of the house with my hair not done (“are you going out like that?!”).
I ultimately use the same products for my hair that I used before I went gray. I do find that I have to be careful with some colored gels or products that can stain gray hair.
Another inspiration for my gray hair is a woman named Ty Alexander from gorgeousingrey.com Seeing her as a young woman of color embracing her gray, never dyeing it, and appreciating it, was so inspiring!
My advice to those thinking of going gray: You won’t know until you try. You will be scared, insecure and impatient and that is okay. It will be better than you think and you will gain confidence that can’t be beaten!
I did not go gray to get compliments but let me tell you I received more compliments from being gray then I ever have before – even when I decided to go natural.
I also feel great when different women let me know that my grays affirmed to them that it’s ok to embrace their roots. That you can still be beautiful and look youthful with gray hair.